In its 187th year of operation, it drew 500 bicyclists on a week-long tour of its trails, 100,000 tons of paying freight to its waters and some $380 million in related activity to the state. Clearly, the Erie Canal is a keeper. But while its history is renowned and its present appears robust, the future of New York’s — indeed, the world’s —- premiere man-made waterway remains choppy.

A political shotgun wedding in the early 1990s married the fortunes of the Canal Corporation, which operates the 524-mile waterway that includes the Erie and three other canals, to the state Thruway Authority. It has been a troubled relationship, particularly of late, with authority officials blaming the canal system and its roughly $100 million annual operating costs on the need for repeated toll hikes.

A divorce is in order.

As this page has urged since 2007, the canal corporation should come back under direct state oversight — and funding — ideally under the auspices of the state Transportation Department.

While the canal is far from financially self-sustaining — like almost every other state agency — there are related economic benefits. The Thruway Authority estimates some $380 million annually in tourism-related activity alone is generated by the canal. Add to that marinas, restaurants, community festivals such as those held annually in Fairport and Palmyra, and pleasure boating, and the benefits mount.

Too, the waterway has seen a recent uptick in, of all things, shipping. After scant such use in recent decades — maybe 10,000 tons of cargo a year — more than 100,000 tons are projected to be shipped this year.

All of this on top of the waterway’s role as historic attraction and recreational go-to for bikers, joggers, fishers, kayakers and other outdoors lovers across the state. In fact, the region’s Economic Development Council, or at least its Tourism and Arts work group, could do worse than to focus more closely on canal-related opportunities.

As today’s final installment of a month-long series of Democrat and Chronicle features makes clear, the canal system will never generate enough funds directly to cover its own operations.

No matter. Its value to New York in terms of recreational opportunities, tourism dollars and economic development is worth investing in.